The intent of this article is to conserve the natural, landscaped
and improved scenery; encourage and protect the appropriate use of
land, buildings and structures; regulate and restrict unsightly and
detrimental signs tending to depreciate the values of property and
hinder progressive improvements in Charles County; and lessen, eliminate
and regulate signs constituting an actual or potential hazard to safe
motor vehicle operation and general traffic on the highways and to
encourage the effective use of signs as a means of communication in
the County, to maintain and enhance the aesthetic environment and
the County's ability to attract sources of economic development
and growth, to encourage unified signage in shopping areas and streetscapes
and to enable the fair and consistent enforcement of these sign regulations.

It is hereby determined that regulation of the location, size,
placement and certain features of signs is necessary to enable the
public to locate goods, services and facilities without difficulty
and confusion, to prevent wasteful use of natural resources in competition
among businesses for attention, to prevent hazards to life and property,
to assure the continued attractiveness of the community and to protect
property values. It is further determined that signs which may lawfully
be erected and maintained under the provisions of this article are
consistent with customary usage and that signs which may not lawfully
be erected or maintained under the provisions hereof are not consistent
with customary usage, are an abuse thereof and are unwarranted invasion
of the rights of legitimate business interests and of the public.

Signs in the Planned Unit Development (PUD) Zone. Signs located in
the Planned Unit Development (PUD) Zone shall be exempt from the normal
requirements of this article. The number, placement, height, size,
illumination and all other requirements for signs within the PUD Zone
shall be approved by the Planning Commission or its designated representative.

The Zoning Officer shall review and approve the sign permit(s)
which addresses the design, construction material, location and method
of illumination, if any, for all proposed signs at the time of permit
application and may, at its discretion, require changes in any or
all of the aforementioned categories before issuance of a permit.
For signs located in the planned unit development (PUD), approval
from the appropriate Planning Design Review Board (PDRB) must be received
prior to applying for a sign permit.

Any permit issued shall become invalid and void if the authorized
work is not completed within six months of the issue date. The Zoning
Officer, upon a determination of reasonable cause, may grant an extension
of a sign permit.

Subject to the approval of the Zoning Officer, amendments to
the sign application or other records accompanying the same may be
filed at any time before completion of the work for which the permit
is sought or issued and, such amendments shall be deemed part of the
original application and shall be filed therewith.

A Charles County sign permit shall be issued to the person or
firm erecting the sign or sign structure. The Charles County sign
permit shall be kept with other pertinent documents which belong to
the person or firm to whom the permit was issued. The sign permit
shall be made readily available to the Zoning Officer.

Upon completion of the sign, the holder of the permit shall
contact the Department of Planning and Growth Management and request
an inspection of the sign. Any deviation from the approved plans and
permit shall be noted, and the holder of the permit shall be notified
of discrepancies.

Except as otherwise provided in § 297-321, no sign may be constructed, erected, enlarged, illuminated or substantially altered except in accordance with the provisions of this article and in accordance with a sign permit issued by the Zoning Officer. Repainting a sign shall not, in and of itself, be considered a substantial alteration.

All signs shall meet the construction requirements of the Charles
County Building Code.[1] Signs shall not obstruct any window, door, fire escape,
stairway or any opening intended to provide air, ingress or egress
for any building or structure.

Upon issuance of a sign permit for a permanent pylon sign, a
building permit will be obtained by the owner of the sign or the contractor
prior to its construction. The sign and sign structure will then be
inspected by a Charles County Building Inspector to ensure its compliance
to the Building Code.

Removal of illegal signs. Failure of the owner of an illegal sign
to remove the sign within 10 days of receipt of written notice of
violation by the Zoning Officer may result in the removal of the illegal
sign or legal action by the County at the owner's expense.

Failure to remove a temporary sign within one week after the
permit expiration date shall subject the owner of the sign to the
penalties provided in this article, and the temporary sign may be
immediately removed by the County at the owner's expense.

For the purpose of a special promotion or event, businesses
shall be allowed the use of not more than one on-site portable sign
or banner, provided that neither shall be flashing, blinking, inconstantly
illuminated, animated or moving, unsafe to traffic or pedestrians
or affixed to any vehicle.

Any existing outdoor advertising sign shall be properly removed
if damaged or destroyed in excess of 50% of the estimated expense
of the reconstruction costs. The removal of outdoor advertising along
rights-of-way of the federal-aid primary system of highways in Charles
County shall be regulated in accordance with the Transportation Article
of the Annotated Code of Maryland and the United States Annotated
Code, Title 23.

Obsolete signs. Any sign which has become obsolete because of discontinuance of the business, service or activity which it advertises, removal from the location to which it directs, abandonment, neglect or for any other reason, shall be removed from the premises within 10 days of written notice to the property owner. If an obsolete sign is nonconforming, see § 297-327.

Unsafe signs. When any sign becomes insecure, in danger of falling
or otherwise unsafe, the owner thereof or the person or firm maintaining
the same shall, upon written notice of the Zoning Officer, immediately
and, in any case, within not more than 10 days, make such sign safe
in conformity with the Charles County Building Code or shall remove
it.

Adverse and unsafe illumination signs. No illumination or glare from
any sign shall emit itself onto any public highway, roadway or right-of-way
so as to adversely affect the safe and efficient movement of vehicles
thereon.

Political campaign signs. Political campaign signs are permitted
in all zones. In residential zones, political campaign signs shall
not exceed 32 square feet in area and shall not be illuminated. Political
campaign signs shall be confined to private property and shall not
be affixed to any public structure.

Signs erected by or on behalf of or pursuant to the authorization
of a governmental body, including legal notices, identification and
information signs, and traffic, directional Ag tourism or regulatory
signs.

A sign identifying an approved automobile inspection station, in
accordance with the requirements of the State of Maryland Vehicle
Administration, not exceeding 16 square feet in area. Such sign shall
contain no advertising of services or products at its location.

Signs attached temporarily to the interior of a building window or
glass door. Such signs, individually or collectively, may not cover
more than 25% of the surface area of the transparent portion of the
window or door to which they are attached.

Flags or insignia of any governmental or nonprofit organization when
properly displayed. This does not include company flags or pennant
signs. Nonprofit flags may only be displayed on the premises of the
nonprofit.

These signs will be located within the road right-of-way in accordance with Appendix K. Where it is not possible to locate these signs in the road right-of-way, signs may be placed on private property with permission of the property owner.

They shall be securely attached to ensure that they are not
released and create any type of hazard to passing traffic. The balloons
must be reused or disposed of properly and shall not be displayed
after sunset.

Signs that revolve or are animated or that utilize movement
or apparent movement to attract the attention of the public. This
includes, but is not limited to, three-dimensional models, pennants,
and propeller discs.

Signs or devices, including searchlights, spotlights and holograms,
which contain or are illuminated by flashing, chasing, or intermittent
effects. Scrolling message boards may not change the message more
than once every 10 seconds. This provision shall not prohibit time,
date, and/or temperature signs that convey information by words, letter
or numbers and which are not in motion and are changed not more than
once every 10 seconds.

Signs within any government right-of-way except for official government signs, signs authorized by the appropriate government authority or directional signs erected in accordance with § 297-325G. Illegal signs erected in the government right-of-way may be removed by the County. An administrative fine of $25 per commercial sign may be assessed by the County against the person that places or maintains a sign within the right-of-way of the state or County.

The locking, painting, posting or affixing of signs, posters or banners
of any kind or description on the walls of buildings, barns, sheds,
trees, utility poles, posts, fences, rocks, walls or other structures
is prohibited. The following signs shall be exempt from the provision
of this subsection: signs identifying the name of property and/or
residents thereof; temporary on-premises real estate signs; signs
warning of any danger, prohibition or regulation of the use of property
or traffic or parking thereon; and official government signs.

Directional or information signs. The following directional or information
signs of a public or quasi-public nature in any zone, not exceeding
32 square feet in area. Such signs shall be without illumination or
advertising.

Signs stating the name and/or location of a private school,
college, YMCA, YWCA, fairgrounds, church or other place of worship
or the name or place of meeting of an official or civic body as the
Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club or Kiwanis Club.

The surface area of a sign shall be computed by including the
entire area within single, continuous, rectilinear perimeter of not
more than eight straight lines, or a circle or an ellipse, enclosing
the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem, or other
display, together with any material or color forming an integral part
of the background of the display or used to differentiate the sign
from the backdrop or structure against which it is place, but not
including any supporting framework or bracing that is clearly incidental
to the display itself.

With respect to two-sided, multi-sided, or three-dimensional signs, the sign surface area shall be computed as described in Subsection A(1) and (2) above by including the total of all sides designed to attract attention or communicate information that can be seen at any one time by a person from one vantage point.

The sign surface of a double-faced, back-to-back sign shall
be calculated by using the area of only one side of such sign, so
long as the distance between the backs of such signs does not exceed
three feet.

The sign surface of a double-faced sign constructed in the form
of "A" shall be calculated by using the area of only one side of such
sign (the larger side if there is a size difference), so long as the
angle of the "A" does not exceed 30° and at no point does the
distance between the backs of such sides exceed five feet.

Only one freestanding sign shall be erected. A shopping center,
business park, or industrial park may have one freestanding sign.
No freestanding sign(s) shall be permitted for individual enterprises
located within or on the same lot with the shopping center, business
park or industrial park.

The street address designation shall be located so it is separate
from the main portion of the sign. The character size shall be a minimum
of six inches in height and located at approximate eye level with
standard passenger vehicles.

Buildings with multiple tenants and/or multiple stories: one
sign shall be permitted to name the building. Those tenants with their
businesses located on the ground level shall be permitted one sign
for each customer entrance for their business.

Buildings with multiple tenants and/or multiple stories: one
sign shall be permitted to name the building. Those tenants with their
businesses located on the ground level shall be permitted one sign
for each customer entrance for their business.

Event signs related to events held in Charles County, located at
public facilities, including, but not limited to, County fairgrounds,
parks and recreations, public schools, and County-owned properties,
nonprofit facilities (VFD, church, civic), events that have obtained
a temporary use permit for a public event, and church fund-raisers.
These signs do not refer to grand openings, special sales or promotional
sales.

With the exception of directional signs erected in accordance with Subsection G, no event signs shall be placed in the public rights-of-way or within the sight triangle of any intersection. Event signs shall not exceed 32 square feet. Such signs must be placed on private property with owner's permission.

Duration: 12:00 noon Friday until 12:00 noon Monday or the Tuesday
following a federal holiday observed on a Monday. For a weekday event,
the sign can be placed 48 hours in advance and removed 24 hours after
the event.

Sign location plan required. The permit application shall be
accompanied by a sign location plan drawn to scale of not less than
one inch equals 2,000 feet. The plan will show the location of the
event and the number and general location of the signs.

Permit fees. The fees for directional signs shall be collected
in the same manner as temporary sign permits. The total square footage
of signage shall be calculated by adding the sum of all directional
signs approved for an event.

All signs and all components thereof, including without limitation,
supports, braces, and anchors, shall be kept in a state of good repair
per the Charles County Building Code,[1] as amended from time to time.

If the message portion of a sign is removed, leaving only the supporting "shell" of a sign or the supporting braces, anchors, or similar components, the owner of the sign or the owner of the property where the sign is located or other person having control over such sign shall, within 180 days of the removal of the message portion of the sign, either replace the entire message portion of the sign with a permit or remove the remaining components of the sign. This subsection shall not be construed to alter the effect of § 297-327, which prohibits the replacement of a nonconforming sign; nor shall this subsection be construed to prevent the changing of the message of a sign.

Within the right-of-way of any public street, road, or buffer
yard unless the work is done pursuant to the express written authorization
of the County or other agency having jurisdiction over the streets.

On property that is not under the ownership or control of the
person doing or responsible for such work, unless the work is done
pursuant to the express authorization of the person owning the property
where such trees or shrubs are located.

Subject to the restrictions of this section, nonconforming signs that were otherwise lawful on the effective date of this article may be continued until they are required to be removed under § 297-326.

If a nonconforming sign is destroyed by natural causes, it may not
thereafter be repaired, reconstructed, or replaced except in conformity
with all the provisions of this article, and the remnants of the former
sign structure shall be cleared from the land.

If a nonconforming sign other than a billboard advertises a business,
service, commodity, accommodation, attractions, or other enterprise
or activity that is no longer operating or being offered or conducted,
that sign shall be considered abandoned and shall be removed within
365 days after such abandonment.

If a billboard remains blank for a continuous period of 365 days,
that billboard shall be deemed abandoned and shall, within 30 days
after such abandonment, be altered to comply with this article or
be removed by the sign owner, owner of the property where the sign
is located, or other person having control over such sign. For the
purposes of this sections a sign is "blank" if:

Real estate signs without illumination, containing the message
that the real estate on which the sign is located (including buildings)
is for sale, lease, or rent together with information identifying
the owner or agent. Such signs shall be removed within 14 days after
sale, lease or rental.

Off-premises signs announcing open houses for real estate sales
or rentals shall be permitted, provided that the owner's permission
is obtained prior to the posting of such sign, they are located outside
of the public right-of-way, and the sign is no larger than four square
feet. Such signs may be posted after 12:00 noon on Friday and must
be removed by 12:00 p.m. the following Monday. No more than four signs
shall be permitted for any one house.

A permanent single sign not exceeding 32 square feet in area,
identifying only the name and street number of an apartment house
or complex, or residential subdivision, may be erected on the premises
or the building itself.

Temporary identification sign. During development and sale of
a subdivision or other property, one temporary sign naming the subdivision
and other pertinent sales information, having an area not exceeding
64 square feet and a height not exceeding 16 feet, shall be permitted
in the subdivision or other property. If the development has multiple
street frontages with a vehicular entrance, one additional sign of
equal size shall be allowed on the premises and situated at the additional
street frontage with a vehicular entrance.

A maximum of four such signs are permitted, and each sign shall
be located not less than 15 feet from the nearest edge of a public
right-of-way and at least 100 feet from the nearest curb intersection
of any streets or roadways.

Duration: 12:00 noon Friday until 12:00 noon Monday or the Tuesday
following a federal holiday observed on a Monday. For a weekday event,
the sign can be placed 48 hours in advance and removed 24 hours after
the event.

Sign location plan required. The permit application shall be
accompanied by a sign location plan drawn to scale of not less than
one inch equals 2,000 feet. The plan will show the location of the
development and the number and general location of the signs.

Permit fees. The fees for directional signs shall be collected
in the same manner as temporary sign permits. The total square footage
of signage shall be calculated by adding the sum of all directional
signs approved for a single residential development.